Josh Reynolds reckons he can be the "calming influence" on the Bulldogs in their charge to the finals. Yep, you read that right. The calming influence.
"I bet everyone is expecting me to get out there and explode on Sunday, but they're going to get a surprise if they think that," Reynolds said. "I'm going to come out and pace myself because in the past I have been guilty of that. I get really excited and want to get out there and do everything at once but I'll just pace myself and do what's best for the team."
Reynolds' greatest quality can also be his downfall. The former NSW five-eighth is renowned for making momentum-changing plays through his energy and aggression, lifting his teammates while getting under the skin of his opponents. The 26-year-old admits that in the past, after coming off a long layoff, he would try to make up for all of the lost time in the space of 80 minutes. In recent times, the result has been a string of penalties and suspensions. However, he believes he will be able to make a more measured contribution in his comeback from a five-week knee injury against the Warriors on Sunday and the coming finals series.
"I'm going to try to come back in there and add something, whether it's energy, whether it's spark or whether it's composure," he said. "Whether it's me providing the calming influence now."
Asked if he had ever envisaged it may be his place to calm, rather than electrify his team, Reynolds said: "Truthfully not. I have to take my hat off to [injured halfback] Trent [Hodkinson], that guy has had such a tough trot and he doesn't deserve that. The league gods sometimes are a bit strange, but he's definitely been a calming influence on me. Before I'd be going off in my crazy head with thoughts. I'm definitely going to go out there with that game sense and hope it pays off.
"The games I played before I got injured I felt I was finding that balance pretty well. For someone like Des [Hasler] to say that he thought that too, hopefully showed I was on the right track. It's about going back to that. It's not about going out there and trying to win the game by myself. It's about doing my role in the team, which is such a great side as we've seen over the past four or five weeks."
Injuries and suspensions have limited Reynolds to 14 appearances this season. While he has enjoyed witnessing Canterbury's late surge towards the playoffs, the local junior admits it has been difficult watching from the sidelines. "It's just hurt me not to play. This has been the most disruptive year I've had throughout my career, in any age group I've played," he said.
"I've definitely gotten a bit hungrier, I really appreciate coming back and being with the boys. I definitely think I've grown as a person and a player. Going back to the end of last year I would probably be going back out there to show that I can still play.
"Now I hope the boys want me back. I'm not out there to please anyone, I'm out there to do my job at this good club we have. In the past, I'm not going to lie, I've probably said that but deep down I was worried about what other people thought. I really don't worry now. If the coaches and staff at the Bulldogs are happy with me, that's all that matters."
For much of the season, the man dubbed 'Grub' has been pitched in a halves battle with Moses Mbye and Hodkinson, with only a season-ending injury to the latter preventing Hasler from making a tough call in the finals.
"I'm not going to lie, this year - and I'm sure it's been the same with Moses and Trent - you've gone home, maybe not had the best game and thought 'I better not do that again next week because there's someone champing at the bit to get up there'," Reynolds said.
"In the end, it has been a good thing. Trent and Moses have been playing some really good footy of late and even when us three were going through that battle, I think it's been good.
"It's that bit easier [knowing I will play pivot] but if Trent was fighting for his spot and Moses as well, I'd be happy to be anywhere, I'd be hoping to be somewhere.
"I think the boys know that, that I want what's best for the team and not for myself."
